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“Today, a greedy con artist got the punishment he deserved,” said U.S. Attorney Tompkins. “This was not a case of a good investment gone bad. Bridges stole money from his investors and used it for trips and personal expenses, while he continued to tell lie after lie to cover his fraud. Potential investors should do their homework before they invest their hard earned money and question promises of large investment returns. Don’t let a con man with a good sales pitch rob you of your precious nest egg,” Tompkins added.

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“The success of this investigation speaks of the continued dedication of our local, state and federal law enforcement partners in targeting and dismantling meth distribution rings that profit by spreading their poison in our communities. Strong partnerships such as this one underscore the power of our combined forces and demonstrate our collective impact on the war against meth,” said U.S. Attorney Tompkins.

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“Ingram’s 20-year prison sentence was warranted given the facts of this case and his extensive criminal history. Protecting our community by taking violent repeat offenders off the streets remains one of the cornerstone functions of this office,” said U.S. Attorney Tompkins.

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“Masking synthetic drugs with creative names and deceptive packaging does not change the fact that these substances are illegal, highly addictive and potentially deadly to those who use them. Whether such drugs are sold in Asheville, Spruce Pine or Charlotte, let it be known that the law enforcement community stands united in the fight against these harmful chemicals that wreak havoc in our communities and pose serious health risks, particularly among young people,” said U.S. Attorney Tompkins.

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“Woody Burgess was sworn to uphold the law but instead thought he was above the law. While prosecuting a law enforcement officer is always difficult, my Office will not allow the likes of Woody Burgess to dishonor the uniform proudly worn by all other Cherryville police officers who are dedicated to serving and protecting their community,” said U.S. Attorney Tompkins.

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“Garnes’ first mistake was to steal from Medicaid. Her second mistake was to think she would not get caught. Today’s sentence is a stark warning to those who believe that committing healthcare fraud will not land them in prison. Our District’s Health Care Fraud Task Force consists of a team of determined prosecutors and investigators committed to going after anyone who steals money from taxpayer supported programs put in place to cover the medical needs of needy North Carolinians,” said U.S. Attorney Tompkins

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““For seven years Shepherd used his investment fund as his personal piggy bank and repeatedly lied to his investors who trusted him with their savings. This is not the case of a single bad investment. Shepherd used his investors’ money to fund his failing investment funds and his personal lifestyle, and prolonged the fraudulent scheme through trickery and lies. Prosecuting investment schemes is a priority for this office and we will continue to go after those who make false promises and steal people’s hard-earned money,” says U.S. Attorney Tompkins.

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“Gang-related violent crimes plague our communities and spread fear and violence in our neighborhoods. This case is particularly troubling because these four gang members continued to carry out violent criminal gang activities and even planned a murder from behind bars. I commend our law enforcement partners for their hard work on this case and for their continued efforts to pursue dangerous gangs and dismantle their illegal activities in our state and elsewhere,” said U.S. Attorney Tompkins."

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“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the victims and while today’s outcome cannot bring back John and Irene Bryant, it is our sincere hope that everyone impacted by Hilton’s heinous crime can finally have some closure,” said U.S. Attorney Tompkins. “I also want to thank the prosecutors and our law enforcement partners who worked on this case for their hard work, professionalism and integrity.”

“For approximately 15 months the Tuckers used stolen money to fund a luxurious lifestyle way above their means. Today’s sentence sends a clear message that my office will work with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who break the law and to ensure the only rewards crooks get are stiff penalties and prison sentences.”